Find out how popular the last name Kennedy is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Kennedy.

Kennedy, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Kennedy surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kennedy in America

Kennedy is the 146th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kennedy surname appeared 176,865 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 60 people would have the surname Kennedy.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kennedy to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Kennedy

The surname Kennedy is of Irish origin, with its roots traced back to the ancient Gaelic kingdom of Dál Riata, which spanned parts of northeastern Ireland and western Scotland. The name is derived from the Gaelic "O'Cinneidigh," meaning "descendant of Cennéidigh" or "ugly head."

The name Kennedy is believed to have first appeared in written records during the 12th century, when it was recorded as "Kennavydych" in the Book of Fees, a medieval Scottish text. Over time, the name evolved through various spellings, including "Kennedie," "Kenneday," and "Kennedye," before settling into its modern form.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Gillebride MacKennedy, a Scottish nobleman who lived in the 13th century. He was a prominent figure in the Kingdom of Scotland and is mentioned in several historical documents from that era.

The Kennedy family played a significant role in Scottish history, particularly during the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 13th and 14th centuries. Robert Kennedy, born in 1314, was a staunch supporter of Robert the Bruce and fought alongside him in several battles against the English.

In the 16th century, the Kennedy family established themselves as a powerful clan in Ayrshire, Scotland. One of their most notable members was David Kennedy, born in 1520, who served as a Lord of the Congregation during the Scottish Reformation.

The name Kennedy also gained prominence in Ireland, where it was associated with the O'Kennedy clan, a prominent family in County Tipperary. Brian O'Kennedy, born in 1460, was a famous Irish chieftain and military leader who fought against the Anglo-Norman settlers in Ireland.

As the Kennedy name spread across the British Isles and beyond, it became associated with several notable figures throughout history. These include:

1. Archibald Kennedy, 1st Marquess of Ailsa (1770-1846), a Scottish peer and landowner.
2. John Pendleton Kennedy (1795-1870), an American novelist and politician.
3. John A. Kennedy (1837-1920), a Canadian politician and entrepreneur.
4. John F. Kennedy (1917-1963), the 35th President of the United States.
5. Ian Kennedy (born 1984), an American professional baseball pitcher.

The surname Kennedy has a rich history spanning centuries, rooted in the ancient Celtic cultures of the British Isles. Its evolution and the achievements of its bearers have contributed to its enduring legacy as a prominent surname across the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kennedy

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Kennedy.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Kennedy was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Kennedy has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Kennedy was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Kennedy, please contact us.

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